By Jenelle Etzel, March 16, 2026
Situational Awareness Is Emotional Awareness
Real estate can be fast, stressful, and confusing. Many agents focus only on getting to closing day. They track deadlines, check boxes, and manage details. However, as Andy Meeks explains in this episode of Open House: Everyday Excellence, being a great agent is more than just technical skill. It’s emotional awareness.
Slow Down to Serve
Andy practices empathetic clarity. He listens to his clients, asks questions, and learns how they process information. By doing this, he understands their hopes and fears. As a result, he builds trust and confidence. This is especially important during high-pressure moments, such as late-night bidding wars or tricky inspections.
In fact, situational awareness is more than reading the room. It’s about understanding the person in front of you. Clients give clues about how they want information. Therefore, paying attention to these clues helps agents guide each client in the best way.
The Value of Emotional Awareness
Early in his career, Andy relied on his law background. He focused on process, accuracy, and efficiency. But over time, he realized that wasn’t enough. He learned to slow down, be present, and show up authentically for clients.
Clients who feel seen and supported make better decisions. They come back for future transactions, and they refer their friends. Ultimately, success isn’t just about closing a deal—it’s about building relationships that last.
Tips for Agents
-
Listen first, guide second. Empathy matters.
-
Notice how clients process information. Adjust your approach.
-
Grow your emotional bandwidth. Confidence and practice are key.
Every transaction is an opportunity to slow down and listen. By combining skill, experience, and emotional awareness, agents can give clients more than a sale—they can give trust, clarity, and confidence.
Listen to the full episode here.
Jenelle Etzel
President & Owner, Licensed Broker OR
She/Her
What does being lead singer and guitar player in a female punk band have in common with starting a real estate company in the middle of a recession? Not many people can answer that question. But when you ask Jenelle Isaacson Etzel founder and CEO of Living Room Realty, there’s no hesitation; where most would see a chasm, she sees a bridge.
For Jenelle, it’s all been about finding a voice—the singular and irrepressible expression of self. Once a quiet, studious, high-school girl growing up in Portland, Jenelle started a punk band after college. She played guitar, wrote cathartic songs, performed, and traveled across country while living out of a van. All that seems light years from the present moment--owning a successful, growing company; serving on boards of civic and philanthropic organizations; enjoying family life with her two young daughters and long-time partner. Still, she uses the same voice now that began to emerge on stage years ago.
Whether it’s business or music, “It’s important to know what your voice is. If it’s true, it will resonate.” Jenelle’s voice, her truth, is about being brave enough to take action without apology, being heard without being exploited, to be energized, constantly problem-solving and refining her skills in the pursuit of building a purpose-driven company. All this requires risk-taking. She’s learned the hard way that she can’t fix everything and that not everyone will share her vision. But even as she explains the difficult choices she’s faced, Jenelle radiates joy.
“It’s never okay to play small,” she says with conviction. And this, more than anything, is what she strives to impart to other women, empowering them to pursue their passion whole-heartedly and to be leaders who speak with their own unique, unapologetic voice.
Living Room Realty, founded in 2009, offers residential, commercial, and property management services. Living Room ranks in the top 15 real estate companies in Oregon, with more than 110 affiliated broker-agents. For more information, visit www.livingroomre.com.
Noted Achievements: First west coast real estate office to receive B Corp status • Top Workplaces, 2014-2016 • 100 Best Workplaces in Oregon 2017 • 100 Best Green Companies 2017 • Oregon Business in Ethics Awards in 2014 • Jenelle has been featured in The Portland Monthly, Oregon Business, and REALTOR® Magazine • Portland Business Journal 40 under 40 Business Leaders • Board of Directors, Rock n Roll Camp for Girls, receiving 2015 award for creative philanthropy • Board Member, Entrepreneurs’ Organization Global Network, Portland chapter • Orchid Award recipient for Business and Civic Contributions • Guest speaker: OPB’s Think Out Loud, Investor Beat, Cascadia Green Building Council • Advocate speaking on behalf of Benefit Corporation legislation with Oregon Secretary of State, Kate Brown
Read More